BRIGHTON — It’s been 274 days since Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles at Madison Square Garden. It was May 12, 2025.
Two hundred and seventy-four days. That’s just over 39 weeks. A number Tatum has burned into his brain.
“Mentally, it's been tough,” he said on Tuesday afternoon. “It's been exhausting. It's been, I can't stress it enough, it's been 39 weeks. It's been a lot of different phases throughout this process, but the organization has been there to support me. Friends, family, the whole nine, so I've had a lot of support throughout this journey.”
The last time Tatum spoke to the entire Boston Celtics beat was at Media Day. That was September 29, 2025, which was 134 days ago. Nearly half of his rehab process.
Tatum joined the Maine Celtics for practice on Monday afternoon, with rookies Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams accompanying him for the workout.
For Tatum, it was the next step in his recovery process.
“Yeah, that's just kind of part of the next progression,” he said of playing live-action five-on-five basketball. “Being 39 weeks, that's kind of the stage that I'm at right now.”
But it was more than that. It was a chance for him to feel closer to the game again. A chance to be part of a team.
“It was good,” Tatum said. “It was just kind of good to be out there, had a jersey on. Just kind of felt good to be a part of a team, and practice, and go through reps, and stuff like that.”
And it also doesn’t mean anything about whether he plans to return to action this season. That’s a decision that has yet to be made. At least, not according to the man himself.
“I'm feeling good,” Tatum said. “It was good to be a part of practice yesterday with the Maine G League guys. Today is 39 weeks, so it's been a long journey, and it's just like the progression of rehab. It was the next step. Doesn't mean that I'm coming back or not. You're just following the plan. It was just another step.”
With Tatum sidelined, Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics have done everything possible to maintain their place as one of the powerhouses of the Eastern Conference.
Through the first 53 games of the season, they’ve gone 34-19, good for third place in the Eastern Conference (They are technically tied for second place, but the New York Knicks hold the tiebreaker over them.)
During a recent podcast appearance, Tatum brought up the team's success in discussing whether he wanted to come back this year. He mentioned not wanting to disrupt the rhythm this Celtics group has cultivated.
The outside world turned Tatum’s moment of honesty and vulnerability into an attack.
In reality, Tatum was just trying to express his candid perspective.
“I think, just over 39 weeks, you have a lot of time on your hands,” Tatum said. “You think about a lot of things, and you're just hyper-aware of what's going on. And I think it would just stem from that.
“Obviously, I know what I bring to the table and bring to the team, but I'm also aware that these guys have been playing extremely well. Not to say that I would come and mess it up, or anything like that. It was just kind of being vulnerable, I guess, for a moment.”
It was a moment of truth. Because Tatum had yet to decide on anything.
He doesn’t know if he’s going to return this year. It’s a massive decision, and in the process of his 39-week recovery (up to this point), every single possibility has crossed his mind.
“Yeah, I mean, I'm still trying to figure it out,” Tatum said. “Still just going through the progressions of rehab. Not saying that I'm coming back or I'm not. It's all about being 100% healthy and going through the plan of this protocol.”
That mental toll has been draining.
Because for Tatum, one of the toughest parts of the entire rehab process has been not being on the court with his team.
“I mean, it's been tough not being able to play and compete,” he said. “You know how much I love this game and love being out there, but I've also grown an appreciation for the game, and for my teammates, and just guys around the league. Just been sitting back and being able to watch guys kind of take their next step, it's been kind of cool to see.”
A team that’s become more than a team.
“They're like my brothers,” Tatum said. “I know I'm injured and not playing, but I like to think I'm still very much a part of the team. When you're out and injured, you feel isolated because you're not playing. So, just being around, encouraging them, being around as much as possible, is good for me and my spirits. So, I’ve just been around as much as I can.”
Tatum has been at almost every Celtics game this season. Home and away. He waves at Boston fans every step of the way, putting a smile on their faces, and just as importantly, putting a smile on his.
“There are a lot of Celtics fans when we travel on the road,” he told Noa Dalzell of SB Nation at the end of October. “And I think, in a humble way, there’s a lot of Jayson Tatum fans out there. There are some cities, like New Orleans, where we only come once a year.
“I understand the value for people who only get to see us once a year and try to see their favorite player play. And I’m not able to play, but I can be out there. And, maybe I can make somebody’s day if I wave at them.”
Every small step Tatum takes is progress. Every dribble, every shot, and every thought. It’s all part of the progression.
The organization has been there for him. His teammates have been there for him. His friends and family have been there for him.
Mazzulla has been there for him.
“I think that's just what you have to do, is just be there for him,” Mazzulla said on Tuesday. “Be there for the milestones. Be there for the first time he walked, be there for the first time he ran, be there for the testing in with which you have to go through, being there yesterday. I think you just have to create a level of space for listening, but also just being there for support. So obviously, at the 39th week, there's a ton of milestones that you have to check off.
“And there's good days, bad days, and just trying to be consistent. Being there for both of them. Being there for the good days, being there for that. So, it's all you can do, and just be a part of the rehab progression, and I think yesterday was a good milestone for him, you know, mentally, physically, emotionally. But it's a good milestone to see the work that he's put in to get to this point.”
As the success of Boston’s season has grown, the chance to win now has not been lost on Tatum. The Celtics, even with Tatum sidelined and having lost four other core pieces this past summer, are a legitimate Eastern Conference contender.
But to Tatum, that’s no surprise.
“We've been one of the best teams all season,” he said. “And we'll continue being one of the best teams for the rest of the regular season, and hopefully in the playoffs.”
It’s no surprise because he knows his teammates. He knows what they’re made of.
“It’s been great,” Tatum said of Jaylen Brown’s season. “I think, even before the season, there was no doubt in my mind that he, and P [Payton Pritchard], and D-White [Derrick White], and all these guys- I knew what they were capable of.
“Whenever somebody that loves the game that much and works as hard as they do, with maybe more opportunity, I'm not surprised at what they've been able to accomplish. And it's been really fun and cool to see.”
His place on the sideline has been that of a supporter. But also as a student of the game. Though, as someone with plenty of playing experience at the highest level, he’s been careful not to overstep.
“I mean, I speak up when I see something,” Tatum said. “And I also know what it's like to be a player, as soon as you make a mistake, everybody telling you what you should have done. And so, I'm not gonna try to be an extra person doing all the yelling and shit. But just little things here and there. But more importantly, just my presence, and showing them I'm here and encouraging them throughout this journey.”
When Tatum does come back, there will inevitably be growing pains.
The system Mazzulla has implemented this season has some similarities to past years, but it’s not an exact replica.
Offensively, the bigs are screening more than ever. The Celtics of old often ran simple pick-and-rolls and leaned on their talent. This season, there are more sets, actions, and layers.
And on the defensive end, the sit back, play one-on-one, and don’t foul game plan has been replaced by a rotate-heavy, help in the paint, and try to force turnovers strategy.
But again, Tatum is more than confident he’ll be able to fit right in.
“Yeah, it might look different,” he said. “I haven't played with these guys, with this group, so. But [we have] a lot of high-IQ guys out there. I like to consider myself one of those types of players. So, if that did present itself, and if I did come back, we're professionals, we'll figure it out.”
Mentally, Tatum is exhausted.
Physically, almost certainly the same.
But he wants to play basketball. He wants to play Celtics basketball.
He may not know his plan yet, whether or not he’ll be back on the court this season, but he’s doing everything in his power to take things day by day.
“I always say, I feel a little bit better today than I did yesterday,” Tatum said. “Whether it's physical, conditioning, trusting it [the Achilles]. Every day, I just feel a little bit better.”
That’s all he can do right now.
And he’s never been more committed to the process.
JAYSON TATUM’S FULL PRESS CONFERENCE
*Some questions have been slightly reworded for the sake of brevity and clarity.*
How are you feeling? How did practice go? Will you try to come back this season?
“I'm feeling good. It was good to be a part of practice yesterday with the Maine G League guys. Today is 39 weeks, so it's been a long journey, and it's just like the progression of rehab. It was the next step. Doesn't mean that I'm coming back or not. Just following the plan. It was just another step.”
How close do you feel to returning at this point, if you were going to put a percentage on it?
“I'm not going— I don't know. I don't know [a] percentage. I just know I feel a little bit better every day, and I just try to focus on that.”
You spoke about some hesitancy about coming back this season because of what these guys have accomplished. What was behind that, and do you still feel that way?
“I think just, over 39 weeks, you have a lot of time on your hands, you think about a lot of things, and you're just hyper-aware of what's going on. And I think it would just stem from that. Obviously, I know what I bring to the table and bring to the team, but I'm also aware that these guys have been playing extremely well. Not to say that I would come and mess it up, or anything like that. It was just kind of being vulnerable, I guess, for a moment.”
What has dealing with the mental toll been like, and who have you leaned on during that process?
“Mentally, it's been tough. It's been exhausting. It's been, I can't stress it enough, it's been 39 weeks. It's been a lot of different phases throughout this process, but the organization has been there to support me. Friends, family, the whole nine, so I've had a lot of support throughout this journey.”
How do you picture fitting into this team midseason if that does happen? Is there going to have to be some sacrifice by you? How do you imagine it happening?
“Yeah, it might look different. I haven't played with these guys, with this group, so. But [we have] a lot of high-IQ guys out there. I like to consider myself one of those types of players. So, if that did present itself, and if I did come back, we're professionals, we'll figure it out.”
What kind of things are you able to do? Are you going five-on-five, full-live right now? Where are you at in what you’re actually doing on the court?
“Yeah, that's just kind of part of the next progression. Being 39 weeks, that's kind of the stage that I'm at right now.”
How was the practice with Maine? I know you talked about that a little bit, but what did it feel like? How did that go?
“It was good. It was just kind of good to be out there, had a jersey on. Just kind of felt good to be a part of a team, and practice, and go through reps, and stuff like that.”
What’s it been like to watch this team play? You’ve been on the sideline. Just to hear everything, but not be able to play. What’s that, mentally, been like for you?
“I mean, it's been tough not being able to play and compete. You know how much I love this game and love being out there, but I've also grown an appreciation for the game, and for my teammates, and just guys around the league. Just been sitting back and being able to watch guys kind of take their next step, it's been kind of cool to see.”
What are the next steps that you have to take?
“Just more conditioning, more live things, getting acclimated to playing five-on-five, and contact, and stuff like that.”
Do you feel like being away from the game for so long, watching from the sidelines, has changed your view of basketball? Have you seen different things that maybe you didn't notice when you were playing, just being on the sideline, almost like a coach?
“Yeah. And I sit next to the coaches during all the games, so I kind of hear their commentary and see it through the lens of the coach. So, I see it from that perspective a lot more than I would have ever seen it before.”
As you go through the practices, where are you at in trusting your Achilles and trusting your body to respond to what you’ve been doing in your recovery?
“I always say, I feel a little bit better today than I did yesterday. Whether it's physical, conditioning, trusting it. Every day, I just feel a little bit better.”
How often do you talk to Tyrese [Haliburton] or Dame [Damian Lillard]? Do you talk to them at all throughout all of this? Do you kind of check in on how their progress is, compared to your progress?
“Yeah, periodically I've talked to those guys. Dejounte Murray. Just kind of guys that have [been in] a similar boat throughout this process, and kind of been encouraging to each other and just kind of checking in on one another.”
What’s been the biggest mental challenge?
“It’s hard to pinpoint one. There’s been a bunch of them, just at different stages of this. There's just been a lot of different things that have mentally been tough. So it's hard to pick one.”
There was a report that you were reevaluating whether you would come back this year or not. Is that true? And where is your mindset on this year at the moment?
“Yeah, I mean, I'm still trying to figure it out. Still just going through the progressions of rehab. Not saying that I'm coming back or I'm not. It's all about being 100% healthy and going through the plan of this protocol.”
How do you feel about the addition of Vooch [Nikola Vucevic]?
“Vooch is a hell of a player. Obviously, I've competed against him for the last eight years. Excited about the things that he brings to this team and the different dynamic. So, we're all excited to have him.”
How do you feel about where you guys stack up in the East with him in the fold, and about what these guys have done this year to put themselves where they are?
“We've been one of the best teams all season. And we'll continue being one of the best teams for the rest of the regular season, and hopefully in the playoffs.”
Are you tired of getting asked about when you’re coming back by people in the street, people at home, or wherever? And how do you respond?
“How do I respond to it? I just tell him, I don't know. It's day by day. I guess I don't get tired of it. You get used to it. But I just tell everybody I'm working towards getting back healthy, and that's what's most important.”
How important has it been to be around the team the whole year?
“They're like my brothers. I know I'm injured and not playing, but I like to think I'm still very much a part of the team. When you're out and injured, you feel isolated because you're not playing. So, just being around, encouraging them, being around as much as possible is good for me and my spirits. So, I’ve just been around as much as I can.”
What do you think of what Jaylen has been able to do this season?
“It’s been great. I think even before the season, there was no doubt in my mind that he, and P, and D-White, and all these guys- I knew what they were capable of. Whenever somebody that loves the game that much and works as hard as they do, with maybe more opportunity, I'm not surprised at what they've been able to accomplish. And it's been really fun and cool to see.”
Have you made any adjustments to your game since the injury because of what you’ve been able to do, not been able to do? Or are you just coming back and playing the same Jayson Tatum game?
“No, I'm always trying to get better. It's been like that every year of my career. It's never been complacent. There's always things I can work on and get better at, and throughout this rehab process, that mindset hasn't been any different.”
Has this injury forced you to change?
“Forced me to sit down. Take some time off.”
From a basketball perspective, how active have you been in the film room? Telling these guys what you’ve been seeing on the court? How active have you been as a vocal leader from a basketball perspective?
“I mean, I speak up when I see something. And I also know what it's like to be a player, as soon as you make a mistake, everybody telling you what you should have done. And so, I'm not gonna try to be an extra person doing all the yelling and shit. But just little things here and there. But more importantly, just my presence, and showing them I'm here and encouraging them throughout this journey.”